49 pages • 1 hour read
SJ James MartinThe Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by SJ James Martin, published in 2010, offers an accessible exploration of Ignatian spirituality, highlighting its origins with St. Ignatius of Loyola. Martin explains the core principles—finding God in all things, being contemplatives in action, incarnational spirituality, and freedom and detachment—alongside practical tools like the examen and various types of prayer. He discusses the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and how these can be relevant to anyone, not just Jesuits, by incorporating simplicity, valuing relationships, and humility. The book concludes by integrating these principles into everyday life, emphasizing that Ignatian spirituality is a continuous journey toward deeper connection with God.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
James Martin's The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything offers readers accessible insights into Jesuit spirituality, blending humor and wisdom. Its practical advice and relatable anecdotes receive praise, though some find it lacking in theological depth. The guide appeals broadly, making complex concepts approachable but may disappoint those seeking rigorous theological analysis.
Who Should Read The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything?
A reader who would enjoy The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything by SJ James Martin is likely interested in exploring spirituality in a contemporary context, seeking practical life advice through the lens of Ignatian wisdom. Comparable to Thomas Merton's The Seven Storey Mountain and Richard Rohr's The Universal Christ, this book appeals to those on a journey of personal and spiritual growth.